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i know gengar is fragile. but is there any way to make a really good stand alone sweeper out of it? posting sets with a brief explanation would be very helpful. if you have anything exclusive to gengar that would make gengar better than Pokemon with similar or better base stats and moves please include it in the set. thanks for the help!

Gengar isn't used much in an offensive role this generation, more as a choice for QuickStall (amazing play-style), and it was back in Gen IV where it was chosen as a fast and offensive Pokémon for teams. It can still function well like that now, it just takes a little more thinking than it may have done back then.

This is probably the most effective set for pulling off a sweep this generation - a full-out offensive set. Sets like this can be molded into 3 attack sets with either Substitute or Protect in the final spot, or a Choice Scarf set (personal favourite), but full offensive seems like the one you're looking for.

The EVs are pretty obvious - along with the Timid nature, Gengar can reach maximum Speed and Speed tie with things like Latias, Latios (any other maxed out Base 110s) and outspeed anything slower. They also give it as much SAtk as possible which, along with the Life Orb, give it great power behind its attacks.

The lowered IVs give Gengar a maximum powered Hidden Power [Ice] while giving it the lowest Attack stat it can, minimising the damage it may deal itself through confusion.

The moves are just for general coverage. Shadow Ball is a decent enough move that gets STAB, and should be the go-to move for most things that don't resist it. Focus Blast gives it coverage against Normal-types and Steel-types that resist Shadow Ball, though the low accuracy mean that you shouldn't rely on it fully at all. Thunderbolt gives you an option against bulky Water-types, hitting them for super-effective damage, as well as Flying-types, and Hidden Power [Ice] is there as your main weapon against Dragon-types. Note however that, while a Hidden Power [Ice] may hit something like Latios or other Dragon-types similar for super-effective damage, Shadow Ball should still be your go-to move - with STAB factored in, it's still more powerful against some Dragon-types than Hidden Power [Ice]. Save the Hidden Power for Dragon-types that are doubly weak to it - Dragonite, Garchomp, Salamence, etc.

gotcha. would a defensive baton pass help him out a lot? i just can't find a really sturdy cosmic power passer. starmie can but lacks the hp. clefable can't pass, maybe i should have asked about a baton pass team. it is really easy to break them. also does pain split help gengar any?

No, I think wasting time Baton Passing defensive boosts to Gengar is kinda useless. Its typing is pretty bad defensively, so you'll most likely be putting yourself more at risk boosting up than just going straight-up offense. If you want to Baton Pass to it at all, then boosts to SAtk and Spd are definitely the way to go. With Gengar's typing, though, even that can be annoying. I'd normally say Celebi would be the best to Baton Pass Nasty Plot boosts, but their typing is so similar that passing them along is a risk too.

Pain Split is an amazing move on Gengar, but it really needs its own dedicated set for it to function well. On a fully offensive set, Pain Split isn't that great - having the added coverage over a pseudo-reliable healing move is much preferred. Same situation with using Disable on Gengar, they both need their own sets to function. I can't help but rate SubSplit Gengar, though, it's incredible. Able to beat Blissey one-on-one, too.

Will have to agree with CP here late SubSplit Gengar is a great Pokemon and is harder to flat out check than most of its sets are and is no where near as common as SubDisable making the surprise factor a great plus.